Keithen Foster, who previously sought mentorship from bassist Chris Loftlin, has become a successful musician, recently touring with Usher. He co-founded Covered by Music, a program aimed at mentoring aspiring musicians, providing a free summer music bootcamp called the R.E.A.L program. This initiative offers local youth hands-on lessons from professional musicians. Foster's experience represents a full-circle moment in his career, reflecting the influence of mentorship and dedication, as he transitioned from mentee to mentor, building connections in the music industry and inspiring the next generation.
Keithen Foster remembers the T-Mobile side-kick phone he used to text his mentor, longtime Brian McKnight bassist Chris Loftlin, while he was in high school. Touring kept Loftlin busy, but he made time for Foster, who was in awe of the experiences his mentor would share in their conversations. 'I remember him saying, 'yo I'll hit you back tomorrow, I'm about to hop on this flight and go to Tokyo,’” said Foster, reminiscing about the excitement of Loftlin’s touring life.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Foster is fresh off of touring with Usher on the singer's 'Past, Present, Future' tour, which included stops in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. He co-founded a program called Covered by Music with fellow Berklee College of Music alum Kirjuan Freeman and Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones to promote mentorship for aspiring local musicians. Their foundation runs a free music bootcamp called the R.E.A.L program for local youth every summer.
The R.E.A.L program offers kids hands-on lessons from professional musicians like Foster and symbolizes a full-circle moment for him, where the mentee becomes the mentor. Foster’s journey from high school to international tours exemplifies the power of mentorship and dedication in the music industry. He often reflects on how his mentor's guidance shaped his career and fueled his desire to support emerging talent.
Foster’s opportunity to tour with Usher came unexpectedly when he received a call from Tony Russell about a scheduling conflict. Russell, the music director for Kendrick Lamar, needed someone to fill in during Usher's tour ahead of the Super Bowl halftime show. This last-minute call exemplified the networking and readiness required in the competitive music industry.
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